But Bill Walsh, the DOT`s district traffic operations engineer, said that is not necessarily the case.

``We look at the vehicle level and the probability for accidents. It concerns us if anybody gets into an accident,`` he said.

Walsh said schools experience ``a peaking problem`` - that is, for 10 or 15 minutes in the morning and again in early afternoon, traffic is increased.

Special sensors can be placed in the left-turn lanes to activate a signal when there is a backup of vehicles waiting to take a left.

``We would like to justify public money to do that,`` Walsh said, but the process is expensive.

At another school, the Association for Retarded Citizens of Broward`s B.F. James Center, staff member Paul Boudrieau said the seven vans for students take Northwest 10th Avenue to Pembroke Avenue and then drive west to Interstate 95.

Boudrieau said, ``I don`t want one of our vans to be in the next accident`` at the intersection, where there is no left-turn light.

Walsh said schools do receive special consideration for crosswalks and walk lights at the traffic signals geared to young pedestrians. But left-turn signals cost money, slow down through traffic and reduce the capacity of roads, he said.

Still, demands for left-turn lights are among the chief complaints received by the DOT in Fort Lauderdale.

``We can`t please everybody,`` Walsh said.

(BU)

New road projects are to start with the coming of the new year.

Work to widen Florida`s Turnpike from Oakland Park Boulevard to Commercial Boulevard is due to begin this week. That 13-month project will not close traffic lanes.

Workers will continue replacing traffic signals and traffic markings on major roads around Broward County, part of an effort to synchronize the signals.

Prospect Road will be widened from Andrews Avenue to Dixie Highway. Powerline Road will be extended to the Hillsboro Canal. Royal Palm Boulevard will be improved.